Spotlight: Japan's accusation against China only excuse for military build-up

BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Japan's recent charge that Chinese jet fighters drew "unusually close" to its military aircraft on a provocative flight over the East China Sea is simply a cover for its despicable plan for a military build-up.

Two Japanese F-15 aircraft deliberately tailed a Chinese Tu-154 plane Wednesday, coming as near as 30 meters as the Chinese aircraft conducted a routine patrol over the East China Sea.

The incident came on the same day two Japanese surveillance planes intruded into the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone. Two J-11 jet fighters of the Chinese Air Force, which took off to identify them, remained more than 150 meters from the Japanese planes during the whole process.

However, Japan, in an apparent move to create conflict with China, again put the blame on its victim by criticizing the Chinese military for approaching "unusually close" to its surveillance aircraft, simply ignoring their own close encounter.

The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday criticized Japan's provocative action and accusation, describing it as "a thief who cries thief." It seems Japan is again turning to old tricks in a bid to promote its theory that China is a threat.

Obviously, a peacefully rising China poses a great threat to Japan in the eyes of Japanese right-wing politicians and the military, in spite of the fact China never deviates from its pursuit of peaceful development and seeks to maintain regional peace and security.

On the contrary, Japan's warmongers have been seeking excuses for its military build-up by demonizing China, accusing it of being the one threatening the region.

In fact, Japan habitually stands facts on their heads by trying to portray itself as a victim.

For a long time, the country has closely scouted and disrupted China's normal flying, posing a grave threat to Chinese warplanes' safety and causing tension in the East China Sea.

According to a statement released by the Chinese Defense Ministry last month, two Japanese aircraft, OP-3C and YS-11EB, intruded into the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone on May 24 to scout and interfere with China-Russia naval drills.

Giving a false account of the facts, the Japanese government also lodged a "protest" against Chinese warplanes' "unusually close" approach to its surveillance aircraft.

The bold-faced clamor shows Japan's right-wing government will never give up its dream of a militarily strong Japan.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing to amend the country's pacifist constitution, which bans Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) fighting overseas, so as to enable Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense.

In an attempt to justify Japan's military build-up, the country's right-wing forces are in dire need of a fabricated "external threat," even an "enemy state."

Therefore, instead of reflecting on its own mistakes, Japan has been repeatedly making remarks that totally distort facts, maliciously attacking China and intentionally deceiving the world.

Considering Japan's recent moves to amend its pacifist constitution, expand its military, play up regional threats, and produce tension and confrontation, the international community needs to have a clear mind on and keep high alert to Japan's real intention.

Abe's drive for a change in Japan's defense policy also triggered domestic concerns over his government's military stance.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition ally, New Komeito, on Tuesday remained at odds over whether the nation should be able to exercise the right to collective self-defense, potentially stalling Abe's push for his Cabinet to green light the move before the current Diet session ends on June 22.

On Thursday, Banri Kaieda, the leader of the largest opposition group, the Democratic Party of Japan, said Abe's attempt could cause a major shift in "Japan's security policy that is based on pacifism," adding the prime minister was "trying to risk people's lives instead of protecting them."

Kaieda's criticism came two days after a speech delivered by Japanese Nobel Laureate Kenzaburo Oe, who said the likelihood Japan would become involved in war would grow if it started making preparations and that "we need to prepare for peace if we seek it."

What Abe wants is a revival of militarism, even at the cost of the interests of other countries, which ultimately leads to the aggravation of regional tensions.

As a Chinese proverb goes: "On-lookers see most of the game." James Chanos, a prominent U.S. hedge fund manager, called Abe the most dangerous figure in Asia at a conference in Las Vegas last month, saying the Japanese prime minister was an "ultranationalist" due to his plan to rearm his country.

In an editorial, The New York Times also described Abe's historical revisionism and nationalism as a "dangerous" complex, setting off alarm bells for the United States.

Chanos' judgement on Abe is a warning not only for investors, but also for international observers who pay close attention to the security situation in the Asia-Pacific.

For the Japanese government, it should immediately stop creating tensions in the region to avoid dangerous consequences.